Folding berth



Dec. 27, 1949 A. A. HoPEMAN, JR., ETAL 2,492,362

FOLDING BERTH Filed Dec. 28, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 jizz/eab@ Dec. 27, 1949 Filed Dec. 28, 1945 A. A. HOPEMAN, JR.,

FOLDING BERTH ET AL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 27, 1949 A. A. HOPEMAN, JR., ETAL 2,492,352

l ,FOLDING BERTI-I Filed Dec. 28, 1945 Y s sheets-sheet s Patented Dec. 27, 1949 FOLDING BERTH Albert A. Hopeman, Jr., and John A. Bohnsack, Waynesboro, Va., assignors to Hopeman Bros., Inc., New York, N. Y., a. corporation of Dela- Waite Application 'December 28, 1945, Serial No. 637,594

2 Claims.

This invention relates 'to folding berths and, more particularly, to those of the variety mounted to swing between a substantially vertical closed position against its supporting partition or wall and a horizontal open position for use, such as employed in restricted spaces of ship Staterooms and railway sleeping cars. One object of the present invention is to provide an improved berth of the above variety and particularly one having a more simple, rugged, and conveniently operated construction.

Another object is to supply a berth of the above type adapted, when not in use, to be swung into a recess in a bulkhead or partition wall and having simple and effective mounting means located mainly on and within the bulkhead or partition wall, without encumbering the berth itself.

A further object is to provide a berth having mounting means constructed as described and so arranged that the berth occupies kminimum room space in both open and closed positions.

Still a further object is to provide a berth folding into a recess in a wall or bulkhead and so mounted that in open or lowered position it projects to a minimum distance ,from the recess into the room space while, in raised or closed position, it closely fits the recess so as to continuously close and neatly fill the same.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of upper and lower folding berths embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, sectional elevation with the berth in raised or closed position as seen from the line 2a-2a in Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 3a-3a in Fig. 5, showing the berth closed;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the berth open;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line 5a--5a in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view on the line lia-*6a in Fig. 5.

The embodiment of the invention, herein disclosed by way of illustration, comprises, preferably, a room space having at one side thereof a vertical bulkhead or partition IB, a deck or oor II, and a deck or ceiling l2. Partition l0 is formed, by any suitable type of construction, with inwardly extending wall portions I3 forming substantially rectangular upper and lower berth re- Y their forward or open sides with low flanges I6 and Il', for a purpose hereafter described. As the upper and lower berths have substantially the same construction, the description of one will be unierstood to apply to both, except as pointed ou Each berth pan, indicated generally at I8., is preferably formed with a rigid metal bottom I8 (Fig. 3) having stiiening lengthwise corrugations as shown, with a smooth plate on one Side thereof which forms a smooth wall neatly closing the berth recess, whenthe berth is in closed position. The pan comprises side walls 2l, a front Wall 22 and a rear wall 23 for holding the mattress 24. A pair of generally triangular brackets 25 are secured in the rear end corners of the pan bottom I9, being formed for this purpose with inwardly turned anges 26 secured, as by means of screws or bolts 2l, to the bottom of the pan.. Flanges 26 are preferably extended up the rear side of brackets 25 to provide triangular .stiftening anges 2,8 which are fastened, as by means of screws 2 9, to the back wall 23 of the pan. Brackets 25 are preferably formed as steel forgings or castings and aord rigid means for supporting the pan on the partition.

The means for mounting each pan for swinging movement comprises, preferably, a pair of brace or link bars 30, one pivoted on the inner surface of each pan bracket 25, as by means of a pivot stud `3l fixed in the bracket in spaced relation with the rear side of the pan. Each link is piVQted at its upper end to the corresponding side wall of the recess as at 32. Each link .3B is somewhat offset laterally as at 33, so as to locate its ends in .properly spaced relation with the pan bracket and recessed wall, respectively. These links provide one of two pivotal means of support at each end of the pan and their extreme outward posie tion of movement during the swinging of the pan is shown by the dotted line position indicated at 34, Fig. 4.

The other pivotal support for each end of each pan preferably comprises a guide block 31 of generally rectangular shape having trunnions 38 and 39 projecting from opposite sides thereof. Trunnion 38 is plvotally received in an opening formed in the corresponding bracket 25 in such position so as to lie adjacent the rear edge of the pan as shown. The other trunnion `39 is pivotally and slidably received in a vertically extending guide opening or slot 40 cut in a wall section or plate 4| forming part of the adjacent side wall of the recess, the plate 4| being detachably secured to the recess wall as by means of screws 42. Trunnion 39 projects beyond the side of plate 4| opposite the recess and pan and has fixed thereto an angular bracket 43. Bracket 43 has an opening therein for slidably receiving a guide rod 44 extending vertically parallel with the plate 4| and its slot 4D, the rod having its upper end inserted through an opening in an upper bracket 45 fixed on the plate, with a pin 4E passed through the rod to suspend it from the bracket. Coiled about and guided on the rod is a compression spring 41 bearing at its upper end against bracket 45 and at its lower end against bracket 43 on the guide block, so as to maintain downward pressure on the latter and on trunnion 38 tending to swing the pan `upwardly on trunnion 38 and link 30 as supports and thus counterbalance the weight of the pan and mattress. f

The oating pivot and counterbalance means comprising the trunnion blocks 31 and springs 4T are assembled in operating position before the berth pan is bolted to the triangular brackets or gussets 25. The spring is compressed by forcibly moving the parts to the position shown in Fig. 4

block with its rear edge in close proximity to the black wall of the recess, so that the berth, in raised and lowered positions and in movements therebetween, projects a minimum distance into the room space. This pivotal control is accomplished, furthermore, by means located on the detachable plates 4| forming part of the walls of the berth receiving recess, the links 30 and guide blocks 31 occupying but little space within the recess. The berth pan is thus advantageously left unobstructed for occupation by the mattress substantially free of encumbrance by mounting and when the parts reach such tensioned position, f

and closed positions, and by suitably locating these slots and the points of pivotal attachment of the links 30, the height of the pan above the deck or floor in lowered position may be selectively determined along with determination of the height of the berth recess and its bottom wall and ange I6 or |1 which serves to cover the space in the bottom of the recess. In raised or closed position the smooth bottom wall 2B of the pan neatly lls and closes the open front side of the berth receiving recess, as shown in Fig. 3. The guide blocks 31 serve to space and center the pan in its receiving recess. The berth may be latched in its upper or closed position by any known or suitable latch means indicated generally at 29a, such, for example, as the latch means commonly employed on the upper berth of Pullman railway cars and forming no part of the present invention.

While the pivotal supports afforded by the links 3U and sliding trunnions 3| are amply strong to sustain the full weight of the berth and its occupant, additional support may be provided, if desired, by attaching to each outer corner of the lower pan pivoted supporting struts or legs 48, these legs being adapted to swing parallel with the pan in its folded position, or made detachable, as desired. Similarly, a strap 49 may be detachably pivoted to a post 50 depending from the deck or ceiling l2 over each outer corner of the berth, the lower end of the strap being connected as at 5| to the pan, either detachably or so as to fold parallel with it in its closed position, as desired.

It is evident from the above construction that the pan and berth may be swung from one position to another by the application of a light force, the berth being maintained by the sliding pivot mechanism.

It will be evident that if the berth were swung about xed pivots in place of the trunnions of the sliding .or floating pivot block 31, it would be necessary, in order to afford clearance in open position, to lower the bottom of the wall recess to a considerable distance below the bottom of the berth in closed position, thus leaving a substantial and unsightly gap vin the wall below the berth. The mounting of the berth on sliding or oating pivots as described, thus serves to both minimize the projection of the berth into the room space in lowered position and enable it to closely fit and close the wall recess when the berth is moved to closed position, thus maintaining for the wall a continuous, smooth and neat appearance. The mechanism, as a whole, is extremely simple, rugged and inexpensive in character, easy to install, and convenient in use.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects and while it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

We claim: Y Y

l. A folding berth movable between raised and lowered positions comprising a supporting partition against which said berth is folded in raised position, said partition having a vertical guide slot therein, a berth pan, link means pivotally connected with said partition and pan and supporting said pan for folding movement on said partition, aY guide block movable in said slot having on one side of said partition a pivotal connection with said pan and provided on the other side of said partition with a bracket, a guide rod on said partition, and a coiled spring on said rod having one end bearing on said bracket in a direction tending to lower said guide block and raise said pan.

2. A folding berth structure comprising a supporting wall formed to provide a berth receiving recess therein, a berth pan, links pivoted to said wall and to said pan at points spaced inwardly from one side thereof, guide means mounted for movement in vertical guide openings in said wall and connected with said pan adjacent said side thereof, spaced brackets on said guide means and on the sides of said wall opposite said pan, respectively, guide rods mounted in said brackets, and compression springs coiled about said rods between said brackets and tending to move said guide means vertically in said openings and swing said pan to closed position in said recess.

ALBERT A. HOPEMAN, JR. JOHN A. BOHNSACK.

(References on following page) Number Name Date REFERENCES CITED 468,868 Snyder Feb. 9, 1892 The following references are of record in the 476,923 Hayi-,On et a1 June 14, 1892 le of this patent: 544,981 Hoskins Aug. 20, 1895 5 1,622,702 Brown Mar. 29, 1927 N b UNHED STATES PAIEMSD 2,224,727 Friede Dec. 1o, 1940 um e'r Name ate 204,321 Hand et a1 May 28, 1878 FOREIGN PATENTS 232,805 Crosby Oct. 5, 1880 Number Country Date 428,212 Jacobson May 20, 1890 10 25,545 Great Britain A. D. 1913 

